parent guide to being tnready - hes.rcstn.net will tnready scores compare to my student’s ......

Parent Guide to Being TNReady

Preparing for the 2016-17 School Year

How will this guidebook help me prepare my family for the school year?

In the pages that follow, you will find details about when your student will take TNReady, how long they will spend testing, what type of questions will be on the test, and more. Our goal is to help you prepare your student to learn and succeed everyday . If you have additional questions after reading this guide, please talk with your student’s teacher or visit TNReady.gov.

WHY DO WE HAVE STATE TESTS?In every Tennessee classroom, teaching and learning looks different based on

the textbooks, curricula, and lessons that school and teacher have chosen. Stateleaders have a responsibility to make sure these varied learning opportunities

are preparing all students for college, career, and life.

Our state tests serve multiple objectives:• Provide feedback about students’ academic progress

and how it aligns with grade-level expectations• Give parents and teachers a big-picture perspective

about how a student is progressing compared to peers across the district and state, including a student’s strengths and growth opportunities

• Build confidence and transparency about students’ readiness for postsecondary and the workforce among Tennessee colleges, universities, and employers

• Help educators strengthen instruction and reflect on their practice

• Hold us accountable to serving all students fairly• Highlight schools where students are excelling, so we

can learn from those who are doing well

TABLE OF CONTENTSLetter from the Commissioner

Frequently Asked Questions

What is TNReady?

How much time will my child spend testing?

What practice tools are available to help my student prepare?

What types of questions will be on TNReady?

How can I help my high school student get ready to possibly take the test online?

Will my student take TNReady online?

When will my student take TNReady?

What testing supports will be available to help my student understand and access the material on the test?

How will TNReady scores compare to my student’s previous test scores?

How will new standards impact TNReady?

Five Things to Know about TNReady

Parent Checklist

Glossary of Key Terms

How are TNReady scores determined?

Resources

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When will I know how my student scored on TNReady? 12

Letter from the CommissionerDear parents,

In my conversations with more than 10,000 teachers, students, and parents since I took office in 2015, testing has been the issue about which

I’ve received the most feedback—and understandably so. As a mom, an educator, and a policy maker, I understand both the benefits of

assessment along with the need to ensure our focus remains on strong teaching and learning in the classroom. It is through all of those perspectives that I am working to improve how we approach assessment in Tennessee.

At the state level, we look to see how students, schools, and districts are performing through the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment

Program (TCAP), which includes TNReady assessments for math, English language arts, social studies, and science. As Tennessee’s

teachers work to equip all students with the knowledge and skills they need, we have to ensure that we can identify any major gaps in students’

learning and find variations in growth among different schools—both so we can strengthen support in places that need it and learn from those who are ex-

celling. TNReady provides teachers and parents a unique feedback loop and big-picture perspective to better understand how students are progressing and how they can support their academic development, but it is important to remember that results from annual as-sessments are just one snapshot. They should never dominate the conversation.

We learned a lot from our experience with TNReady in the 2015-16 school year. As commissioner, I have committed to both creating better tests—so the results are helpful—while also looking for opportunities to improve test structure, time, delivery, and scheduling. We are taking immediate action on this work, as you will see in this guide. Overall, our state test is about 30 percent shorter than it was in 2015-16, which is about three-and-a-half hours less for the average third grader. We are also phasing into online assessments, so this year, students in grades 3-8 will take TNReady on paper, with districts having the option to test their high schoolers online if they and our test vendor demonstrate readiness. Finally, we are working on making results more actionable for parents and teachers, including taking steps over the next couple of years to provide better information faster than before.

Our goals are the same: we want all our students to develop real-world skills, including critical thinking, writing, and problem solving. We want to minimize the burden of testing in our schools. We want to provide parents, teachers, and students with helpful information. And, we want to move forward with each of you as partners in this work- so ultimately our schools can foster positive learning environments that focus on whole child development. Each of our children deserves to be ready for the next step in their educational journey, and TNReady is one way we make sure they are prepared for the better opportunities that lie ahead.

Thank you for all that you do every day for our students,

Dr. Candice McQueenCommissioner of Education 1

What is TNReady?The Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment

Program (TCAP) has been the state’s testing program since 1988, and it

includes TNReady, the state’s assessments in math, English language arts, social studies, and science. As the state has transitioned to higher academic standards over the past several years, and will continue to do so, our tests have become

better aligned to what educators are teaching in their classrooms

every day.

TNReady is designed to assess true student understanding, not just basic memorization and

test-taking skills. TNReady measures students’ understanding of our current state standards in English

language arts, math, social studies, and science, but it is more than just a state test. It is a way to assess what our students know

and what we can do to help them succeed in the future. Just as we take our children to the doctor for their annual check-ups, TNReady offers parents, students, and teachers with an academic check-up each year to ensure all students are moving forward, on track to be successful in the next step of their academic journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why TNReady?

Develops skills that are in line

with college and work

expectations

Allows students to show what

they know in new ways

Provides better information for teachers and parents

Promotes real-world

problem solving 2

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Students in grades 3-8 take these exams

each year:

High school students take the following End

of Course (EOC) exams:

Students in grades 3-11 with the most significant cognitive disabilities are eligible for alternative assessments in all four content areas (ELA, math,

science, and social studies)

• English I• English II• English III

• Algebra I or Integrated Math I• Geometry or Integrated Math II

• Algebra II or IntegratedMath III

• U.S. History & Geography• Chemistry

• Biology

• English Language Arts• Mathematics• Social Studies

• Science

• For grades 3–8 , students takethe Multi-State Alternate

Assessment (MSAA) in Englishlanguage arts and mathematics• For grades 3–8, students take

the TCAP Alternate for Social Studies

• For second grade students in adistrict taking the optionalsecond grade assessment, students take the Alternate

Assessment for Second Grade in math and ELA

TCAP

What tests are included underneath the TCAP testing umbrella?

• For grade 11, studentstake the Multi-State

Alternate Assessment(MSAA) in English language

arts and mathematics • For science in grade 10,students take the TCAPAlternate for Science.

TNReady Assessments for Students with Disabilities

*English learners are required to participate state assessments. Theonly exception is for a student who is in his or her first year in a U.S.school. Also, testing accommodations are available for ELs who arein direct service, waived services, or considered transition during the

four years following exit from the ESL program.

TESTED SUBJECTS FOR THE 2016-17 YEAR

+-x= The TNReady math assessment will ask students to solve some multi-step

problems and looks for their problem solving skills. It will have both calculator-permitted and calculator-prohibited sections.

The TNReady English language arts assessment still includes writing, as it has for the past few years, but it has been broken into shorter, more

manageable subparts to help address concerns about students’ stamina. This assessment will ask students to support their answers with evidence

from passages they will read on the test.

This year’s social studies TNReady assessment is a field test in grades 3–8 ––meaning it will not be scored for a grade or factor into educator’s

evaluations, but it will help the department develop future assessments. It will include multiple types of questions. U.S. history & geography is an operational End of Course assessment- so results will be available for

parents, students, and educators.

The TNReady science assessment in grades 3–11 will be very similar to last year’s. While it will be a multiple choice test, the department plans to redesign the test in future years to better capture what students know

and are able to do.

Overall, students will spend less time on state tests this year. Additionally, testing logistics and scheduling will improve. Instead of a Part I and Part II, the test will be given in a single administration window at the end of the school year. To minimize the impact on the overall school environment, this window will be one week shorter than last year’s Part II window. And, instead of longer subtests, students will take the test in a series of shorter subparts, which are often small enough- sometimes as short as 30 minutes– to fit into the normal school day. While the department will continuously seek to improve testing in Tennessee, these changes move us forward.

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How much time will my child spend testing?Generally, students will spend about 30% less time on state tests than in 2015-16. In grades 3-8, TNReady has been shortened by 200-210 minutes, depending on the grade. Most End of Course assessments have been reduced by 40-120 minutes; the only End of Course tests that are unchanged are biology and chemistry, which are already the shortest test. The chart on the following page shows how much time students will spend taking their state assessment this year and how much time has been reduced from the 2015-16 test.

While districts and schools may add additional tests onto what is required by the state, the total amount of time a student spends on state tests is less than 1% of the school year.

2016-17 TESTING TIME CHART

English I/II/III

End of Course Exam (EOC)

Integrated Math I/II/III

Algebra I/II

Biology I

Geometry

Subpart 1: 85 minutes (writing)Subpart 2: 50 minutesSubpart 3: 50 minutesSubpart 4: 45 minutes

Total: 230 minutes

Subpart 1: 35 minutes (no calculator)Subpart 2: 55 minutes (calculator)Subpart 3: 55 minutes (calculator)

Total: 145 minutes


Total: 145 minutes


Total: 145 minutes

Subpart 1: 75 minutesTotal: 75 minutes

120 minute reduction

65 minute reduction

65 minute reduction

65 minute reduction

no change

U.S. History & Geography

Chemistry I

Subpart 1: 50 minutes (writing)Subpart 2: 45 minutes Subpart 3: 45 minutes

Total: 140 minutes

Subpart 1: 75 minutesTotal: 75 minutes

40 minute reduction

no change

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2016-17 TESTING TIME CHART

*OPTIONAL; DISTRICT CHOICE*Subpart 1: 40 minutesSubpart 2: 42 minutes

Total: 82 minutes

*OPTIONAL; DISTRICT CHOICE*Subpart 1: 40 minutes Subpart 2: 40 minutes Subpart 3: 42 minutes Subpart 4: 40 minutes

Total: 195 minutes

Subpart 1: 75 minutes (writing) Subpart 2: 35 minutes Subpart 3: 35 minutes Subpart 4: 50 minutes

Total: 195 minutes95 minute reduction











Subpart 1: 45 minutes (no calc)Subpart 2: 30 minutes (calculator)Subpart 3: 40 minutes (calculator)


Field test: 50 minutesTotal: 50 minutes









Subpart 1: 53 minutesSubpart 2: 51 minutes

Total: 104 minutesno change



















ELA Mathematics Science Social Studies

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 8

Grade 7

Grade 6

Grade 5

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What types of questions will be on TNReady?TNReady tests a deeper level of knowledge than previous tests. For example, in English language arts students will read from a passage and provide some written responses to support their answers. In math, students will solve multi-step problems, many without using a calculator, to show what they know. TNReady gives students a variety of ways to show what they know and can do.

We know that teachers use a combination of things like writing assignments, projects, and multiple-choice questions to measure student learning throughout the year. In a similar way, TNReady will give students a variety of ways to show what they know. On the following pages you will see a few sample questions from TNReady in a variety of subjects and grades. The correct answers are indicated in orange.

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1. Makenna purchases a car for $27,500. The value ofthe car will depreciate each year. After five years, the value of the car is $14,186. What is the approximate yearly depreciation rate of the car, to the nearest tenth of a percent?

2. Evaluate 39 - (11 + 53 ÷ 5)

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3. The creator of Mickey Mouse was born December 5,1901, in Chicago. His name was Walter Disney. Hebegan drawing pictures when he were a young boy,His first drawing was of his neighbor’s horse, Rupert.Replace were with:A. wereB. wasC. amD. is

12.4%

(Grade 6)

(Algebra II)

(Grade 4)

Mathematics Sample Questions:

English Language Arts Sample Questions:

TNReady givesstudents a variety

of ways to showwhat they know

and can do.

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4. Select the two sentences from the passage thatbest represent the idea of the New Year as “a time forfresh beginnings.”

A. “This image ... was important to cross through the ‘right way’ to producefavorable outcomes.”B. “A resolution is simply an agreement with yourself to change somethingabout your life for the better.”C. “A new year is like a clean sheet of paper to draw blueprints for a freshvision.”D. “However, you should not wear black, as that will bring you sorrow in theNew Year.”E. “There is also an old story that exactly at midnight animals are able tospeak for one minute....”

5. How does a person know thatthe hurricane is in the AtlanticOcean?

A. It is west of South AmericaB. It is east of North AmericaC. It is north of AustraliaD. It is south of Africa

6. Which person would most likely have been a “new”immigrant during the late 19th and early 20thcenturies?

A. A farmer from SwedenB. A Catholic from ItalyC. A merchant from EnglandD. A protestant from Germany

(Grade 3)

(U.S. History & Geography)

English Language Arts Sample Questions (continued):

Social Studies Sample Questions:

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What practice tools are available to help my student prepare for TNReady?While the best preparation for TNReady will be strong instruction every day in the classroom, we know that parents and teachers need additional tools to prepare students for success. Questions on TNReady this year will be in a similar format to the questions students were preparing for last school year and will be aligned to the standards students are learning in class every day.

Parent Access to Practice QuestionsTNReady practice questions will be available to parents online in the coming months. Continue to check TNReady.gov for more information.

Practice TestTeachers have access to a practice tests, which provides example questions for every standard that will be assessed on the test through an internal system called EdTools. Practice tests are available in all tested grades and subjects. Teachers can use the practice test in class to help your student be prepared for TNReady.

The best preparation for

TNReady is strong instruction every day.

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A. air pressureB. magnetic forceC. frictionD. gravity

A. It is an acidB. It is a baseC. It is a neutralD. It is a salt

(Grade 8)7. A student throws a toy airplane upward. The airplane travels for a short distance and then falls to the ground. What pulls the airplane to the ground?

(Chemistry)8. When a student performs an acid-base test on ahousehold cleaner, red litmus paper turns blue. Basedon the results, which statement is a valid conclusion?

Science Sample Questions:

Will my student take TNReady online?Tennessee will phase in online administration over multiple years to ensure both state and local technology readiness. For the upcoming school year, the state assessment for grades 3–8 will be administered via paper and pencil.

The department will work closely with Questar, our testing vendor for TNReady, to provide an online option for high school End of Course exams for math, English, and U.S. history & geography for the spring testing window if the testing platform demonstrates early proof of successful online administration in schools. However, all high schools on block schedule will administer their fall End of Course exams via paper and pencil.

Even if schools demonstrate readiness for online spring administration, districts will still have the option to choose paper and pencil assessments for their high school students this year.

Biology and chemistry exams will be administered via paper and pencil. For students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, MSAA has online and paper options, and the TCAP Alternative assessment is paper and pencil only.

How can I help my high school student get ready to possibly take the test online?In higher education, nearly every job, and our modern society, we use the internet to communicate and accomplish our work. It is the way of our world. We must prepare students for their future, which requires comfort with technology. With that in mind, high schools will have an option to administer their spring End of Course

exams online.

To prepare your student, encourage them to begin using digital devices every day in low-stress situations. Don’t wait until testing begins to help your student learn how to use a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer. Similar to last year, a student portal and practice test will be avail-able for practice later this fall.

We know that some Tennessee students do not have access to a computer or the internet at home. If internet access is a challenge, we encourage you to talk with your school principal about options for allowing your student to use a computer after school hours. You could also visit a computer lab at the public library, community center, and/or place of worship.

We must prepare students for their

futures, which requires comfort with technology.

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When will my student take TNReady?All TNReady assessments will be administered toward the end of the year (or at the end of the semester for high school students on block schedule). All assessments will now be taken in one administration window.

TNReady will be administered between April 17 and May 5, and districts have scheduling flexibility to minimize the impact of testing on school activities. The first subpart of the English language arts assessment, which includes the writing prompt, will be administered during the first week of the three-week window. High schools on a fall block schedule will take their assessment between November 28 and December 16. Fall block students will take the test via paper and pencil.

The assessments for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, MSAA (math and ELA) and TCAP Alternative (science and social studies), will take place over a two-month window in the spring.

What testing supports will be available to help my student

understand and access the material on the test?

As in the past, the full range of accommodations will be available to make the test accessible for all students to participate. IEP teams will be provided guidance on how to select appropriate accommodations for this, which will be similar to

last year.

For parents of students with disabilities, please visit TNReady.gov for a supplemental guide on

accommodations and preparing your student for TNReady.

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How will TNReady scores compare to my child’s previous test scores?As students and teachers rise to new expectations with the new tests, we predict that first-year test scores for students in grades 3-8 will decline when compared to previous TCAP assessments. We expect first year results from TNReady to set a new baseline to measure rapid progress in the years to come. As a parent, you can use the information from the test to help support your child at home and begin a discussion with your child’s teacher to identify what, if any, additional support is necessary to ensure they move from grade to grade with the academic knowledge and skills necessary for success in the next school year and beyond high school.

New parent reports will show more and better information than ever before, and will be given to parents once the scoring process has been completed. For students who took End of Course exams during the 2015-16 school year, their parents and teachers will receive these new reports later this fall. Each subject will be broken down into categories of skills to show where a student is doing well or needs some extra help and how their results compare to that of their peers in their school, district, and in Tennessee. On the next page, you will see a sample of the newly designed parent reports for TNReady.

When will I know how my student scored on TNReady?Results in the first year of TNReady will be delayed while Tennessee teachers and the department complete the scoring process during the summer, so we expect to have official scores for students in grades 3-8 in the fall of 2017. For End of Course exams, the department is planning for results to be available for families and schools in summer 2017. During future test administrations, the department will publish results for grades 3-8 and high school on a similar timeline.

Scores and raw data from the End of Course 2015-16 state tests will be available later this fall, as the department outlined last year. Students who took End of Course exams in English language arts, math, and U.S. history & geography will receive full, newly redesigned score reports, which will provide better information to parents and students. Results from grades 3-8 will be more limited raw data—for example, the department will be able to share how many questions a student answered correctly, but not what that score means in terms of a student’s proficiency and growth level.

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As a parent, you can use the information

from the test to help support your

child at home.

BACK

FRONT

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How are TNReady Scores Determined?

What is the standards setting?

Least Difficult

Question

MostDifficult

Question

Actual student performance determines where the questions fall from least difficult to most difficult; that’s why you can only do standards setting after students take the test.

Based on broad definitions of what students should know and be able to do at each level, Tennessee educators look at each question, determining the cut off between each level of proficiency. This process is called standards setting.

Districts Return

Materials

Questar Scans all

Documents

Materials are Hand-

scored

ConductStandards

Setting

TVAASData

Available

Student Results

Released

What is a cut score? The point where two levels meet is called the cut score. Three cut scores determine four levels of performance.

Cut Score A Cut Score B Cut Score C

LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 LEVEL 4

What is a performance level?

The cut score is the minimum score a student must earn to be considered at a certain performance level.

Performance level is not the same as proficiency; rather, performance levels are used to determine proficiency.

LEVEL 1

LEVEL 4

LEVEL 3

LEVEL 2

Cut Score B

Cut Score c

Cut Score A

The Scoring Process

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How will new standards impact TNReady?Tennessee teachers and the broader education community have been revising our state academic standards in math and English language arts over the past couple of years. The new standards will be fully implemented in Tennessee classrooms during the 2017-18 school year, with training that will get underway over the course of the 2016-17 year to help educators prepare for

the transition. However, the 2016-17 TNReady tests are aligned to the standards our

educators have been teaching for several years, not the new standards.

Science and social studies academic standards are also under review. On the current schedule, the new science standards will be in effect in 2018-19 and social studies in 2019-20. TNReady is a Tennessee

specific test that is designed to easily adapt over time in order to measure new standards. As the state’s standards evolve, so

will TNReady.

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What if I still have questions?We know that you may still have questions about

TNReady for the 2016-17 school year, and we have prepared a detailed frequently asked questions section that can be found on TNReady.gov. If you still feel like you have unanswered questions, you can submit a question on a form located at the bottom of the frequently asked questions page. Your question will be shared with us and someone at the department will provide you with an email response and any additional resources that may be

helpful.

Five Things to Know About TNReady

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Overall, students will spend about 30 percent less time taking state tests in math, social studies, English

language arts, and science this year.

The test will be given in one part during a three-week window between April 17 and May 5.

For grades 3–8, TNReady will be administered via paper and pencil and are working to provide an online option

for high school assessments.

TNReady includes rigorous questions aligned with what educators are teaching every day and measure students’

writing, critical thinking,and problem solving skills.

The information from TNReady will provide a big-picture perspective on how students are progressing compared to

their peers across Tennessee, and better information about a student’s strengths, needs, and areas for growth.

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Parent Checklist for TNReady

Help your child get ready to learn: ensure your child is going to school every day well rested and ready to take

on new challenges.

Meet with your child’s teacher: Ask about your child’s strengths and areas to grow and how you can support

them at home.

Talk to your child: Get feedback from them on which subjects your child feels most comfortable in and where

they are most challenged.

Challenge your child: When your child is working on homework or studying for a classroom test, ask them to

explain what they are learning and let them be the teacher.

Be an adult learner: Let your child see you discovering new things and overcoming challenges, whether it be

learning new information or a new skill.

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GlossaryCut Scores: the minimum score s tudent must earn to be considered at a certain performance level

Performance Level: used to determine proficiency

Practice Test: a bank of questions that represents each standard or academic expectation that will be assessed on the actual test

Reporting: how we share details about student performance on TCAP

Seat Time: the amount of time students spend actually taking a test

Standards: what we expect students to know and be able to do by the end of a grade or school year

Standards Setting: the process of Tennessee educators looking at each question and determining the cut off between each level of proficiency

TCAP: Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment program, which includes all of our state tests. TNReady is a part of TCAP.

Testing Window: the window of dates in which districts can choose to administer TNReady; students only spend a portion of the testing window actually taking the test

TNReady: a new, better state test with questions that mirror what students are expected to know and be able to do in order to be on track for the next step in their educational journey that includes the main state tests in math, English language arts, social studies, and science in grades 3-11

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ResourcesYour student’s teacher is always the best resource for

questions about TNReady.

The following websites are recommended for preparing for and staying up-to-date about TNReady:

Tennessee Department of Education’s webpage focused on TNReady information and resources:www.tnready.gov

Tennessee Department of Education’s website section with details about academic standards for all subjects and grade levels:www.tn.gov/education/topic/academic-standards

Tennessee Department of Education’s blog site, which features teacher perspectives and inspiring stories:www.tnclassroomchronicles.org

Tennessee Department of Education’s Twitter account:www.twitter.com/TNedu

Tennessee Department of Education’s Facebook account:www.facebook.com/TennesseeEducation

Remember, the best resource is always your student’s teacher.

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